Football

Two Vaqueros are preseason CFA All-Americans

Elijah Cunningham set a school record in last year's opener with a 100-yard kickoff return vs. San Bernardino Valley. (Photo by Ken Sciallo)

Aug 12, 2016

SBCC landed two players on the College Football America 2016 YearbookJuco Starting Lineup, CFA's version of a preseason All-America team. Arizona Western,ASA, Merced, Mississippi Gulf Coast and defending state champion CC San Francisco also had two selections.

The Vaquero picks are sophomore Elijah Cunningham and punter Joel Whitford.Cunningham averaged a whopping 40.8 yards per return last season with two touchdowns and was named All-American by the JC Athletic Bureau. Whitford averaged 37.6 yards per punt and was named All-State. Whitford, a freshman from Australia, won't play at SBCC this year after accepting an offer to punt for the University of Washington, starting in 2017.

Eleven of the 26 players are from California community colleges.

SBCC opens the 2016 campaign on Sept. 3 at Ventura (6 p.m.) and the home opener is Sept. 10 vs. West L.A. at 1 p.m. in La Playa Stadium.